Our 2015 Christmas Newsletter!

Have a very Merry Christmas, from our family to yours :)

The Chicken Run aka No Room at the Inn

We left Kajjansi airfield with 500, 1 day old chicks on board heading for Maridi, South Sudan where a Chinese NGO had a community building farm operation.  The problems started when we loaded them into the aircraft. Too much pressure with the tie down straps and the chicks could be crushed, too little, and they’re careening around the cabin like popcorn!  We also had to closely watch the temperature in the plane to make sure they weren’t too cold or too warm. 

Unloading the precious cargo.

The next glitch happened in Arua.  Heavy thunder storms would keep us here for the night…  but what about the chicks!?  We had to find a way to keep them w.arm for the night.  Us two pilots started brainstorming with the passenger.  She thought maybe she could find a hotel and put all 500 of them in bed with her?  The hotel was not very keen on that idea!  We thought about buying a small charcoal stove and gathering the boxes of chicks around it in a small room- but there was the fear they would die of smoke inhalation!  We thought about storing them in our fuel storage container at the airfield, but the cold and fumes would get them.  

Figuring out what to do.

We were stuck and our passenger was getting quite upset since a previous attempt to get chicks into South Sudan had seen all 500 of them  die. Just then, some of the AIM Air (Africa Inland Missions) guys approached us - after filling them in about our situation they said we could use their garage and a heat lamp and stay the night in their guest rooms.  Thank you God, for good samaritans and a room in the garage when the Inn is full.  The chicks all survived their wild adventure and are now growing bigger at their new home in Maridi.

The chicks leaving to their new home.

Maridi, South Sudan from above.

Sometimes, loving my neighbour is actually pretty easy…

On one side of our house in Kampala, we have another lovely MAF family living.  They graciously return things my children launch over our shared garden wall (balls, tennis raquets, shoes) and will still invite us around for some cake :)  

Our other wall borders a group of smaller, Ugandan homes.  They have lots of noisy chickens, a baby that cries all night and sometimes they burn their garbage just as we are sitting down to dinner.  Better still, there is a huge boarding school on the corner - where the pitter-patter of little feet and clanging of wash basins starts at 5:15am, just as the call to prayer from the mosque below starts resonating up the hill and through my bedroom window.  

There are plenty of mornings when it would be easy to be annoyed while I chug sip my third cup of coffee - but I think it is actually easier to love my neighbours.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."  The second is this " You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these."  Mark 12:30/31

These are my people, the people I’m doing life with at this very moment.  How can I shut them out when God so clearly asks me to love them, despite things I view as inconvenient.  It would be easier if we were all the same and could get along no matter what - if my neighbours were all polite Canadians and we sat around apologizing, sipping coffee and sharing maple dipped doughnuts.  

BUT, we are all uniquely woven, wonderfully made in His perfect image: black, white, Christian, Muslim, rich, poor old and young.  We are called to love each other, and if we love Him first, surely the rest will follow.  God came to earth and walked among his people, especially those who he called the least of these…

Sometimes all we need to do to love our neighbours is open our doors and open up our hearts.  Sometimes its as simple as a smile and a wave or 3 bucks worth of ice cream, a skipping rope and a game of basketball.  And sometimes, its a little bit harder - but let’s pull up a chair, pass out the coffee and embrace our differences.  God doesn’t make mistakes, and we are in this together. Maybe all being the same would be easier, but it would not allow much room for us to grow and develop the LOVE that Christ came to model for us. Our differences are what make us unique, challenge us to stretch, and ultimately help us to develop His character.

“We cannot love God and despise people” - Beth Moore

"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself.  Leviticus 19:18

September 2015 Newsletter

Our Latest Newsletter - Enjoy :)

It's a wonderful world.

From the early morning mist on the hills, sun-speckled valleys, patchwork farm fields and thatched-roof houses, I can’t help but think how absolutely beautiful this world we’ve been given really is. The earth rolling by underneath our wings helps to put my every day worries aside and makes me stop, take a deep breath and just be in awe of it all.

Today, I’m also amazed by the beauty of the people in it - although small compared to the mountains, each of us is leaving our mark in a totally different way.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Some of us can fly planes, taking passengers into South Sudan with boxes of immunizations and first aid supplies.  Some of us open our churches, homes and arms to the sick, hungry and needy.  Some of us teach, helping people learn new farming techniques and how to improve living standards in some of the worlds toughest places.  And some of us, like me, tickle little toes and play hide-and-seek; and every once in a while have the chance to tell the stories of the ones doing His work.  

Our hands are all important, no matter how big or small the job, and when we use them together, small things become great works - all we have to do is step out into this wonderful world.

"Don't try to do great things for God. Do small things with great love." Mother Teresa

My guide for the day, MAF pilot Rembrand Rodenburg.

John, from the Diocese of Yambio in South Sudan, was flown with his precious cargo - boxes of vaccines and first aid supplies - to Arua, where he waited to be flown across the border to Yambio by MAF South Sudan.

The MAF South Sudan plane coming to meet our passengers.

Our new MAF Uganda Office at Kajjansi Airfield - designed by and shared with EMI (Engineering Ministries International)

Thunderstorms moving in over Kampala.

That weird spot in the middle...

Saturday morning I was on the back of a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi), making my way through the city centre to the market.  When we stop at an intersection, I notice the boda on my left is carrying a basket full of live chickens, the boda on my right has 6 people on it, 3 adults and 3 kids.  The lady is bravely nursing her baby as they weave through traffic.  I can speak enough Luganda to navigate the market confidently, and everyone calls me Jennifer (although I have no idea why :)  and I answer, without even thinking, when someone calls out "Hey, Muzungu, how are YOU!?"  I'm so comfortable here, and I don't even know when it happened.

This time tomorrow, I'll be landing in Halifax, almost "home" again in Canada for a visit with the family.  I can't help but be a little torn, I feel like Uganda is home now, too...  to leave "home" to go "home" is such a strange feeling.  And that's where it leaves me, that weird spot in the middle.  A little of my heart here, and a little of my heart there - and they have to meet somewhere in between.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26 

See you soon Uganda,
See you sooner Canada!

June 2015 Newsletter

Fear - And why I'm not afraid anymore (a story mostly through pictures)

Visiting in the Children's ward at Mulago Hospital.

When I found out a few years ago that my child, my beautiful daughter, was never going to be like the other little girls I was surrounded by, I was terrified.  The world was full of “What ifs” and “How comes” and, honestly, I grieved for her…  for moments that she’ll never experience, and hard lessons that will be harder for her..  for the rejection or the day when she notices what everyone else sees.  It’s hard.  And I’m scared.  

Charlee snuggling babies (what she does best) in a neglected area close to where we live.

The guy in the middle is scared of the "muzungu" or "white person".  Charlee couldn't figure out what was wrong ;)

BUT - She possesses something that not many people do.  She doesn’t see rich or poor, old or young, black or white.  She doesn't judge by the way you speak, or the clothes you wear, or if you have drool running down your face.  She sees people.  And people are all that matter to her.

Helping deliver Easter goodie bags to some disabled children - she's quite generous with the chips!  I think Derek appreciated it :)

Derek (above) is 18 and developed a type of Cerebral Palsy when he was 3, 

after contracting Cerebral Malaria.  He looooves sweets and visitors!

He, and another girl who can't speak are cared for by their grandfather.

Baby Melissa also has cerebral palsy and is epileptic.  Her and Charlee were fast friends!

Melissa's brothers were happy to have some treats.

So at our Palm Sunday special needs support group, I tried to look at these kids like Charlee does.  To love them without thinking.  And to embrace the differences in them.  Trina has a smile that lights up a room!  Whitney sings and dances and twirls like a princess.  Pudgy baby William has such a sweet demeanour that you couldn’t bear to be grumpy in his presence.  

Whitney leads the whole group in a song at our Palm Sunday Special Needs party - her grandma and sister are so proud!

Trina has the most beautiful smile.. and it's contagious! At almost 6 years and only 7 kilos, she can't sit up on her own and her mama carries her everywhere and has a blanket she lays her on so she can be near the other kids.  We are on the hunt for a wheelchair for her so she can sit up and see her friends.

Baby William gets a ride from his sister when he gets a bit restless inside...  it's amazing, he's half the size that she is, but after her mama helped get him on there, they walked around for about 20 minutes.

The sweetest face :)

I choose to look past their disabilities and see their hearts, the way that God made them.  Each and everyone one of them has a gift too, and if I only choose to see the things that make me sad, I miss out on the biggest blessings.  THAT is why I’m not afraid anymore.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

After the day we visited in the slum, Charlee was convinced she had to go see some more babies, so last Sunday we piled into the car with our friend Dina and headed to the children's ward at Mulago Hospital.  Mulago is the largest government hospital in Uganda and is very corrupt, over populated and under resourced.  I was afraid of what we might find there, but Charlee and Dina marched fearlessly in and started talking to mothers, praying for babies and fitting right in.  I was really just along for the ride:)

After holding baby Ruth, I assumed she was about a week old, but was completely shocked to find out she is 2 1/2 years!  She was very alert in taking everything in.

This mama has 3 month old preemie twins, and she was more than happy to let Charlee hold one for a bit.  She has been in the hospital alone sine their birth and specifically called Dina back to pray with her, even though she is a Muslim.  She just needed someone to care.

Charlee and Daniella visiting with a sick boy who was tucked away in the corner.  They stood there with him and held his hand, even after his dad said "It doesn't matter."  These little girls see the hope in the situation.

Dina praying for a baby and his mother.

This little guy, Matthew, was one of the only babies here alone - every time we walked away, he would cry, so she would go back and kiss him, and then we would move on and she would go back and kiss him.... 

The ward is so crowded, mothers or grandmothers sleep on mats between the cots just so they have a place to stay.

Not one baby was left out...  And not only did Charlee get her baby fix in, she cheered up the mothers while she was a it.  They all had a great time with her around.  She really was amazing.  

Charlee danced to cheer up some of the ladies before we left.